Staff Hardware Systems Applications Engineer

We are seeking a highly experienced and driven Applications Engineer to join our HW Systems Applications Engineering team. In this pivotal role, you will be the technical lead for investigating, understanding, and resolving complex issues affecting our product in the field. You will tackle challenging cross-functional problems that span the entire product lifecycle, from initial deployment to end-of-life. Your work will directly impact product reliability, performance, and customer satisfaction, ensuring our self-driving trucks operate safely and efficiently. 

This is a Staff-level position for an engineer with a deep passion for problem-solving and a proven track record of leading technical investigations in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.

In this role, you will

• Lead Root Cause Investigations: Own and drive the end-to-end Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) process for critical hardware (HW) and software (SW) issues reported from the field.
• Develop Scalable Processes: Work cross-functionally between engineering, service, and operational teams to improve, establish, and harden scalable processes for field problem management, ensuring learnings are incorporated into future product generations and service/diagnostic procedures.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as a primary technical point of contact, orchestrating investigations across engineering teams including Systems, Software, Hardware, Test, and Manufacturing to diagnose and resolve systemic problems.
  Advanced Troubleshooting: Utilize diagnostic tools like Vector CANalyzer/CANoe and oscilloscopes to analyze signal data and troubleshoot intricate electromechanical systems.
• Hands-On Data Analysis: Dive deep into large-scale vehicle log data, sensor outputs, and manufacturing records. Develop and utilize scripts (e.g., in Python) to parse, analyze, and visualize complex datasets to uncover failure trends and root causes.
• Drive Product Improvement: Translate investigation findings into actionable design, manufacturing, or software changes. Champion corrective and preventative actions to enhance product robustness and prevent issue recurrence.
• Communicate and Report: Clearly and concisely communicate investigation status, findings, and recommendations to technical peers, program managers, and executive leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in systems engineering, test engineering, or product support for complex hardware/software products.
• Demonstrated mastery of formal RCCA methodologies (e.g., 8D, Fishbone/Ishikawa diagrams, 5 Whys, Fault Tree Analysis).
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, SQL) for data manipulation and analysis.
• Deep well of experience troubleshooting integrated HW/SW systems.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel on a semi-frequent basis to investigate field issues and share knowledge at other AUR locations 

Desirable Qualifications (this section is optional)

• Master's in an engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in the robotics, autonomous vehicle, or aerospace industry.
• Expert-level experience using Vector CANalyzer, CANoe, and other similar vehicle network analysis tools.
• Experience with C++ for log parsing and analysis.
• A proven track record of successfully leading multiple, complex, cross-functional investigations from start to finish.
• Strong understanding of statistical analysis methods for reliability and failure analysis.

The base salary range for this position is $163,000-$261,000 per year.  Aurora’s pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate’s starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.

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